Miycreations Project article and photographs
by  Madeleine M Langlois   MaddyLane Designs

This Summer “Let the kids make a Color splash”
“Instead of throwing out an older or stained tablecloth or to spruce
up a plain one....let the kids make a splash and add more color to it.”
Not only will they have a blast doing it, but then you get a new colorful
and unique picnic tablecloth! How fun is that!

Moms and Day camps, looking for a fun activity to keep the kids busy for at
least half an hour or so and paint an original tablecloth at the same time?
While preparing items for a garage sale, I came across an old tablecloth that
had a few stains. Instead of tossing it out I thought why not add more color to
the table cloth to hide the stains. So, we loaded up small water guns with
diluted fabric paints and let the kids make a huge color splash onto the
tablecloth. The results were not only fun for the kids, but we now have a super
picnic tablecloth as well.

Materials & tools:
•  An old tablecloth and napkins with a few stains or that you are no longer
using, in a light
•  A dozen or so toy water guns (dollar store)
•  Damp cloth and mild detergent
•  Water
•  Diluted Fabric paints (I used Setacolor by Pébéo)
•  Eyedropper or small funnel (to fill the water gun with diluted fabric paints)
•  Paper towels and a hose
•  Goggles for the kids, light t-shirts and shorts (optional, only if you want then
to color splash their cloths)

(Materials for this project are available at arts, crafts and above mentioned
stores.)


A light colored tablecloth and napkins will work best for this project. Natural
fiber fabrics create much nicer results. Pre-wash the tablecloth, napkins or
fabric without using bleach or softeners, dry and iron.














This is an outdoor activity. Hang the tablecloth on a clothes-line or lay it on
the ground, placing small rocks at the corners to keep the tablecloth in place
or fasten it to trees using push pins. If needed, protect your work area with a
large plastic sheet.

Prepare the fabric paint colors by diluting them half and half with water. Load
the paint colors into the water guns using an eyedropper or funnel. Prepare
the same number of water guns per color per child. Meaning each child
should have water guns with the same colors, one green, one red, yellow,
blue etc…





















Have the kids wear goggles and their bathing suits and then it’s a go, let them
shoot water colors at the tablecloth. Once the kids are finished with their
spectacular displayed colors, hang up the tablecloth to let it dry. We then did
the napkins in the same manner. The next time we do this with the kids, we will
have them dress in light colored T-shirts and shorts, that way they can paint
their clothes at the same time.















When the tablecloth and napkins are dry, wait 24 hours for the paints to fully
air cure prior to heat-setting the fabric with an iron. To heat-set the fabric
paint colors, iron the tablecloth and napkins on the reverse side for 3 to 5
minutes on the cotton setting. Once heat-set, the fabrics resist machine
washing and dry cleaning.

We inadvertently left the napkins out in a rain shower and what a spectacular
surprise! The gently washed colors became softer with a marbled effect. Try a
light spraying of water on your finished piece or leave them out in a light rain
shower to achieve similar results.



















After the kids have completed their masterpieces, hose them down to clean
them up. The paints will not harm the skin as these paints are non-toxic and
will wash off easily using a mild soap.

Variations: Other fun items to decorate with a color splash in the same
manner are bed sheets and pillow cases, table runners, beach bags, cottage
curtains and even large floor throw pillow covers to enjoy by a camp fire.
No water guns, no a problem, load up plastic turkey basters with the diluted
fabric colored solution and squirt onto the item to be colored splashed.
The fabric paints are non-toxic and the colors dry soft and permanent.
Miy Kids Summer Craft project
Splash-Art Tablecloth
"f o r   t h e   p u r e   j o y   o f   m a k i n g   t h i n g s"
Copyright, All rights reserved Maddylane Designs /  Miy Creations.com 2008
The kids taking a little break while
we reloaded the water guns with
more paints. As you can see they
really enjoyed this project!
Easy Breezy summer  
Centerpiece.
The centerpiece creations was
make with plaster castings that
the kids painted.
The votive holders were painted
with glass paint drippings, all
embedded in sand on a tray.
© All Rights Reserved 2008
Photos and miycreations projects are copyrighted
~by MaddyLane Designs~
“Miy Kids Books”… All New at Miy Creations





Miy Kids Book... A Bilingual Children's book (English and French)
Super Buddy and the case of the missing Library books
Super Copain, La chasse aux livres de bibliotèque disparus
by Madeleine M Langlois
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